The Minneapolis Mineral and Gem Club was organized in 1935 as a Science Museum Society of the Minneapolis Public Library Museum and continued formally until early 1942. Members who remained in the cities during the war continued to meet informally at private homes. In late 1945, William Bingham, the last formal president of the Minneapolis Mineral and Gem Club convened a meeting at Pillsbury Hall on the University of Minnesota campus. Five of the thirteen attendees agreed to serve on a constitutional committee to establish a new club. The Actual MMC forms… The first official meeting of the newly formed Minnesota Mineral Club was convened on December 8, 1945 at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Bernard Dahl. Half of the 26 attendees became official members that night and selected a slate of seven initial officers to serve until the first annual meeting to be held on March 9, 1946. At the end of the short initial year, the club had 43 active and 22 associate members.  A year later, the active membership exceeded 100 adults. The club’s first annual exhibit (show) was held on Saturday, April 14, 1946 at the Curtis Hotel. Twenty-six members provided exhibits, which were judged competitively. The first issue of the Rock Rustler News was published in May 1946.  The first field trip, to collect near Stillwater, was held on May 12, 1946. The group heeded the advice of the nationally recognized Dr. H.C. Dake, the editor of the Mineralogist Magazine to keep the club name simple, yet descriptive.  Dr. Dake subsequently visited the club, after he was awarded the club’s first honorary life membership. The Minnesota Mineral Club was officially incorporated on February 15, 1950. Regional affairs… Members of the Minnesota Mineral Club visited the Minneapolis Convention of the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies in October 1946 and joined the federation that year.  Since then, numerous members of the club have served both the Midwest and American Federation in various leadership roles.  The Minnesota Mineral Club hosted the Midwest Federation Conventions in 1952, 1956, 1970, 1982, 2003 and 2012.  Four MMC members have served as President of the regional group and three were recognized as honorary members of the region:  William de Neui and Bill and Jean Dahlberg. Bill deNeui is one of the founders of the American Federation Scholarship Foundation and served as its first Treasurer.  He is also responsible for registering the Foundation as well as the MWF and the AFMS as Minnesota corporations.  A member of the MMC serves as the official registrar for these corporations. Minnesota’s state gemstone… MMC members successfully lobbied the state legislature to have the Lake Superior Agate named as the state gemstone.  This is just one aspect of the club’s love affair with Lakers.  In 1988, the club hosted the “Night of the Lake Superior Agate” where members and guests could actually see some of the more famous Lakers and hear from agate author, club member Scott Wolters.  In 1995, Night of the Agates II again brought many local agate lovers together for an all agate exhibit and presentation.  “A Celebration of Agates” show, sponsored by the club, was held in 2012.

Source: Minnesota Mineral Club – Club History